Rotary explosive-engine.



J. G. & R. T. PETERSON. ROTARY BXPLosIvB ENGINE.

PPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1910.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. C. & R. T. PETERSON. ROTARY BXPLOSI-VE ENGINE. APPLIoATIoN FILED SEPT. 19, 1910.

Patented Mar.21, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TILE- i @Homey JAMES C. PETERSON AND ROBERT T. PETER/SON, OF GLICHEN, ALBERTA, CANADA.

ROTARY EXPLOSIVE-ENGINE.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES C. PETERSON and Ro'BERT T. PETERSON, citizens of Alberta, Canada, residing at Gleichen, in the Province of Alberta and Dominion of Canada. ha ve iuvented new and useful Improvements in Atotary Explosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rotary engines, and more particularly to rotary explosive engines of that type in which the explosive charge is compressed before being ignited.

The invention has for one of its objects to Vimprove and simplify the construction a11cl""ope1'ation of apparatus of this character .so as to be comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, highly efficient in operation, and composed of comparatively few parts.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means for admitting and compressing explosive mixture to the piston chamber so that the charge will be effectively compressed before ignition and the fired gases operate on the piston throughout alternate revolutions to produce a powerful torque.

Vith these objects in view and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of the engine showing the parts in a position immediately subsequent to the intake of a charge of gas. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the operating parts in the position they occupy when the charge is compressed. Fig. 3 is a view showing the position of the parts immediately after firing the compressed charge. Fig. 4 is a view showing t-he parts in the position they occupy toward the lend of the power stroke. Fig. 5 is a side view of the engine drawn on a reduced scale.

Similar reference characters are 'employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the base or bed of the engine on which is mounted a cylindrical casing or piston chamber that is composed of a cylindrical shell 2 and. heads 3, and in this chamber is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

Application filed September 19, 1910. Serial No. 582,772.

mounted a concentric cylinder or drum 4 which has a piston wing 5 extending outwardly to have a working engagement with the internal surface of lthe shell 2.. The face 6 ofthe wing merges gradually into the drum 4 and is tangential therewith, while the rear or opposite face 7 is curved on a line that approximately intersects the axis pf rotation and lies more nearly in a radial me. that extends horizontally through the axis of the cylindrical casing, and on this shaft may be arranged a pulley 9 by which power can be taken from the shaft. In the shell of `the casing is a valve controlled air inlet 9 casing. Between the ports 9 and 10, the casing is formed with a boss or enlargement 11 1n which is formed a compression chamber 12 that opens into the chamber of the piston casing, and this chamber 12 is connected by a pipe 13 with a carbureter or other device for producing an explosive gas. In the thickened portion 11 of the shell 2 are' approximately radially-disposed guideways 14 and 15 in which move sliding valves 16 and 17 respec-tively. that are urged inwardly against the revolving piston 4 by springs 18 disposed in the guides 14 and 15, the said springs being coiled around rods 19 secured to the sliding valves'. These valves 16 and 17 are disposedat opposite sides of the compression chamber 12 and they move inwardly and outwardly as the wing 5 of the piston passes under them. In. the compression chamber is an ignition device such as a spark plug 20 connected with a suitable electric ignition system so as to fire the charge The piston 4 is fastened to a shaft SV at the proper instant in the revolution of the piston. i

It is necessary to hold the valve 17 raised or indrawn at the timeof explosion so that the fired ga'sescan operate on the piston wing. and for this purpose a catch pin 21 is slidably mounted in'an opening 22 in one side of the chamber V12. so that the inner end of t-he pin can enter a depression or equivalent means 2? in one side face of the slide valve 17, the said depression beinggin line with the catch or locking pin when the valve is raised to its full extent. The piu 21 is pressed away from the valve by a spring 24 arranged behind the head of 'the pin. The pin is held in locking position b v a dog same time the high pressure ignited gases` 26 that is pivoted at 27 in the chamberlQ at. one side and extends to the opposite side thereof, and depending from this dog 1s a linger or projection 28 which drops into the path of the piston wing when the free end of the dog engages behind the head 'of the pin 21 when the same is in locking positron, aud being in the path of the piston wing the dog will be raised so as to release the locking pin and allow the valve 17 to be released at the end of the working period and before the next charge is drawn 1n.

7hen`the parts are in the position sho-wn in Fig. 1, the piston vv'ng has just passed under the valves 16 aud 17 and caused a charge of gas to be drawn into the chamber 12 and the s ace inclosed between the two valves' 16 an 17, the piston revolving in a clockwise direct-ion. As the piston continues to revolve, air is drawn into the continually enlarging space piston wing 5. The. space between the piston wing 5 and valve 16 is filled with spent gases which are driven out through the exhaust port 10 as the piston wing continuously decreases this space. As the wing 5 reaches the valve 16, the bottom edge of the latter rides on the tangential surface 6 until the valve is completely raisedf The piston i wing, during this openin of the valve 16, compresses the charge o gas confined between it and the valve 17 into the chamber 1Q and this compressed charge is/held in the compression chamber by the concentric peripheral portion of the wing. During this compression of the charge, the valve 17 is raised or moved open immediately thereafter and held in this position by the concentric peripheral portion of the piston. s the piston continues to rotate, the wing 5 passes from under the valve 16 so that the same will ride down the curved rear face 7 of the ring. After this point is reached in the revolution of the piston, the compressed charge is ignited by the spark plug 20 and `as the result an impulse is imparted to the piston wing to rotate the piston and at the operate lon the head or piston Q5 of the locking pin 21 and force the pin into the socket 23 of the raised valve 17 lhen the piston 25 is pressed inwardly to engage the pin 21 with the valve 17, the locking device 26 drops so that its free end will be disposed behind the head 25 and the depending finger 28 disposed in the path of the piston wing 5. As soon as the tail end of the piston f wing uncovers the exhaust port 10, the spent gases will discharge from the engine, Aand upon the wing 5 strikingv the finger 28, the device Q6 will be released from the head of the locking pin 21 so that the valve 17 can move closed after the wing 5 has drawn in the next charge and passed under the valve 17. During the next revolution, a

between the valve 17 and' j, Having thus charge of air is drawn in behind the wing 5 through the port 9 and then na-lly discharged through the exhaust port 10 like the previous spent gases. Then the new charge of gas is compressed, it will be ignited at the proper moment so as to produce another impulse on the piston. The cycle of operation above described continues as long as fuel is supplied to the engine.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the constructlon and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while we have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which wenow consider to be the best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that. such changes may be made when desired as are within the claims appended hereto.

A1. A rotary explosive' engine comprising a casing, a rotary element therein having a piston wing, sliding valves for confining the charge of explosive mixture, one of the valves forming a fixed abutment against which the exploded charge re-acts to drive the piston wing, and means for automatically holding the other valve open during the working period of the engine.

An explosive engine comprising a casing, a rotary piston therein having a winO, sliding valves extending into the casing to engage the piston and movable inwardly and outwardly by the wing passing the valves, means for admitting a` charge of explosive mixture between the valves as the described the invention, what piston passes the same, a chamber between `one of the valves open while the other valve forms an abut-ment against which the exploded mixture reacts on the wing to rotate the piston.

3. An `explosive engine comprising a casing, a rotary piston therein having a wing, sliding valves extending into the casing to engage the piston and movable inwardly and outwardly by the wing passingv the valves, means for admitting a charge of explosive mixture between the valves as the piston passes the same, a chamber between the valves and in which the mixture is compressed by the piston wing, means for tiring the compressed mixture, a device actuated by the exploded mixture for holding one of the valves open while the other valve forms an abutment against which the exploded mixture re-acts on the wing to rotate the piston, and means arranged to set automatically for holding the said device in lockingly holding the valves in closed position against` the piston, said casing -having a compression chamber dlsposed between the valves, means for admlttmg a charge of ex- 'plosive mixture to the chamber, means for admitting a1r at the side of one ofthe valves opposite from the compression chamber, an exhaust port arranged at the side of the other valve opposite from the compression chal'nber, vand a device for automatically holding open the valve located between the air-admitting means and compression chamber' after the compressed charge ignites.

5.' An engine comprising a casing, a piston mounted therein having a wing, approximately radially disposed sliding valves extending into the casing and adapted to bear on the piston and its wing, means for yieldingly holding the valves in closed position against the piston, said casing having a compression chamber 'disposed between the valves, means'for admitting a charge of explosive mixture to the chamber, means for admitting air at the side of one of the valves opposite from the com ression chamber, an exhaust port arrange at vthe side of the other valve opposite from the compres-.

sion chamber, a device for automatically holding open thevalve located between the air-admitting means and compression cha-1nher after the compressed charge ignites, said last-mentioned means comprising a 'locking pin adapted to engage the said valve when in open position, means tending to unlock Vthepin from the valve, and a device in the compression chamber adapted to set automatically for holding the pin in locking position and tol be released By the piston wing after the completion of the working period and before .the admission of a new charge to the compression chamber.

6. An engine comprising a casing, a ro'- permitthe device to distary piston therein having an eccentric wing, a sliding valve extending from the wall 'of the casing to the piston and movable outwardly by the piston wing, means for moving the valve inwardly, said valve forming an abutment against which the exploded charge re-acts for rotating the piston, an exhaust. port at one side of the valve, a. compression chamber at the opposite side of the valve, means for admitting an explosive mixture to the chamber, a second similarly operated valve spaced from the first and located at the opposite side of the compression chamber and forming means for interrupt-ing the suction of the explosive mixture to the compression chamber and space between the valves, means for vadmitting air between the second valve and the piston wing as the latter' passes the valve, and al1tomatically-actuated'means for holding the second valveopen during the period in which the exploded mixture operates on the piston. j y

7. In an engine of the class described, the combination of a casing, a rotary piston therein having a wing, a wing-actuated valve, a chamber in which a charge is compressed and exploded, and means actuated by the pressure of the exploded gases for holding the valve in 'a position removed from the exploded gases acting on the piston wing.

8. In an engine of the class described, the combination of a' casing, a rotary piston therein having a wing,. a wing-actuated valve, a chamber in which a charge is compressed and exploded, means actuated by the pressure of the exploded gases for holding the valve in a position removed from the exploded gases .acting on the piston wing, a device for holding the said means in locking position during the working period and adapted to be released by the piston wing to permit the said means to 'disengage the valve.

In testimony whereof we aiiix our signatures in presence of two'witnesses.

JAMES C. PETERSON. ROBERT T. PETERSON. Witnesses: 4

E. S. 'Ho'roHxIss, I-IOLGER SUNDSLEY. 

